Side Effects Of Chemo And Radiation For Throat Cancer

Cancer treatments may cause mouth throat and dental problems.

Side effects of chemo and radiation for throat cancer. Healthy cells in the treatment area can also be damaged even though steps are taken to protect normal tissue as much as possible. Oral complications affect the mouth. The complications may be side effects of the disease or treatment or they may have other causes. Some of these side effects are temporary but depending on the extent of damage some may last for a very long time.

Other side effects depend on the part of the body that is being treated. Radiation therapy to the head and neck may harm the salivary glands and tissues in your mouth and or make it hard to chew and swallow safely. Radiation aimed at the head and neck might damage the salivary glands leading to dry mouth that doesn t get better with time. Some types of chemotherapy and immunotherapy can also harm cells in your mouth throat and lips.

It is important to consult a team of oncologists to understand the possible severity of side effects before a particular chemotherapy drug is accepted in treatment. We offer several radiation therapy approaches for people with throat cancer. Side effects are caused by damage to healthy cells. Learn more about possible side effects.

Complications are new medical problems that occur during or after a disease procedure or treatment and that make recovery harder. Side effects of radiation tend to be worse if chemotherapy is given at the same time. Side effects of radiation therapy in throat cancer patients. Many people who get radiation therapy experience fatigue.

Among the most common at msk are intensity modulated radiation therapy and proton therapy. Some side effects may continue after treatment ends because it takes time for the healthy cells to recover from radiation. Radiation therapy has side effects because it not only kills or slows the growth of cancer cells it can also affect nearby healthy cells. Different cells and tissues in the body tolerate radiation differently.

Drugs used to treat cancer and certain bone problems may also cause oral problems. Tell your doctor about any side effects you have because there are often ways to help. Oral complications are common in cancer patients especially those with head and neck cancer. Radiation therapy damages cancer cells.